MORGAN COUNTY
A Monticello man who fled from a Morgan County deputy on Jan. 31 and led police on a high-speed chase with speeds in excess of 120 mph was finally tracked down and arrested on Feb. 6 by MCSO deputies.
Ricky Dale Johnson, 44, of Monticello, faces charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, obstruction of officers, driving while license suspended and taillight requirement violations.
According to Capt. Brandon Sellers of the MCSO, a tip led deputies to a Willow Springs Road address near the Morgan/Walton county line, where authorities found Johnson sitting in the front yard.
Johnson had been stopped by Morgan County Deputy Cameron Pound on Jan. 31 on Hwy 278 near Brooks Road for a malfunctioning taillight. Johnson initially pulled over, but when Cameron got out of his patrol unit, Johnson sped away.
According to the original report, Johnson accelerated aggressively, which caused the Pontiac G6 he was driving to spin around going west toward Rutledge Crossing.
Pound said he caught up to the Pontiac at Davis Academy Road, but the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed and driving erratically.
Pound continued the chase until he reached the Walton County line, and he was advised to cancel the pursuit.
According to reports, Georgia State Troopers got involved in the chase and were heading to the address connected to the Pontiac’s license plate. The car was owned by the grandmother of the man driving the car, finally identified as Johnson. The troopers waited at the address, but the Pontiac never came.
The grandmother was contacted and confirmed that Johnson was driving the Pontiac. Johnson told a GSP Trooper he planned to turn himself in but never did.
A check of Johnson’s license revealed it was suspended for failure to appear, failure to meet child support obligations and other reasons.